An information transmission system comprising: a set of one or more computer memory devices on which is stored an information database; database editing means, coupled to said one or more computer memory devices, for generating a hierarchically arranged set of indices for referencing data in said information database, including distinct indices for referencing distinct portions thereof, and for embedding said indices in said information database; a transmission scheduler for scheduling transmission of selected portions of said information database, including assigning each selected portion of said information database one or more scheduled transmission times; a transmitter, coupled to said transmission scheduler and said one or more computer memory devices, for transmitting a stream of data packets containing said selected portions of said information database in accordance with said scheduled transmission times; said transmission scheduler dividing said selected portions of said information database into a prioritized set of tiers, wherein all the selected portions of said information database in each tier are transmitted at a corresponding repetition rate, wherein the repetition rate for higher priority tiers is higher than the repetition rate for lower priority tiers; and subscriber stations that receive said transmitted stream of data packets, each subscriber station including a data filter that stores filter data corresponding to a subset of said indices, said filter data specifying a set of requested data packets which comprising a subset of said transmitted data packets, and that downloads into a memory storage device those of said received data packets which match said specified set of requested data packets. view more

The information transmission system of claim 1, wherein said set of indices include timestamps therein indicating when each said portion of the information database referenced by an index is scheduled to be transmitted; and said subscriber stations including data processing apparatus that decodes said timestamps in said indices; whereby subscribers can be informed as to when a specified portion of the information database will be received. view more

The information transmission system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the transmission bandwidth available to said transmitter is reserved for transmitting portions of said information database requested by subscribers; said information transmission system including a subscriber request receiver that receives requests from subscribers, said requests each specifying a portion of said information database; and said transmission scheduler also scheduling transmission of requested portions of said information database. view more

The information transmission system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter transmits said data packets using multiple transmission channels; and said subscriber stations include receiver apparatus for receiving data packets for each of said multiple transmission channels. view more

The information transmission system of claim 9, wherein said information database includes video program materials as well as non-video information; said transmitter transmits data packets containing at least selected portions of said video program materials on at least one of said multiple transmission channels and transmits primarily non-video information on at least one other one of said multiplicity of transmission channels; and a multiplicity of said subscriber stations include means for receiving and storing video program materials. view more

The information transmission system of claim 1, said data filter comprising a buffer for temporarily storing received data packets, a filter list storage device for storing said filter data referencing said specified set of requested data packets, and data processing circuitry for comparing said data packets temporarily stored in said buffer with said filter data and then forwarding those data packets in said buffer which match said filter data to a predefined destination; whereby each subscriber station receives all transmitted data packets but forwards only requested data packets to said predefined destination. view more

An information transmission method comprising the steps of: storing an information database on one or more memory devices; generating and storing on said memory devices a hierarchically arranged set of indices for referencing data in said information database, including distinct indices for referencing distinct portions thereof, and embedding said indices in said information database; scheduling transmission of selected portions of said information database, including assigning each selected portion of said information database one or more scheduled transmission times; transmitting a stream of data packets containing said selected portions of said information database in accordance with said scheduled transmission times; said scheduling step including dividing said selected portions of said information database into a prioritized set of tiers, wherein all the selected portions of said information database in each tier are transmitted at a corresponding repetition rate, wherein the repetition rate for higher priority tiers is higher than the repetition rate for lower priority tiers; receiving said transmitted stream of data packets at subscriber stations; at each subscriber stations, storing filter data corresponding to a subset of said indices, said filter data specifying a set of requested data packets which comprises a subset of said transmitted data packets; and at each subscriber station, downloading into a memory storage device those of said received data packets which match said specified set of requested data packets. view more

The information transmission method of claim 16, wherein said generating step generates indices including timestamps therein, said timestamps indicating when each said portion of the information database referenced by an index is scheduled to be transmitted; said method including decoding said timestamps in said indices at said subscriber stations; whereby subscribers can be informed as to when a specified portion of the information database will be received. view more

The information transmission method of claim 16, wherein said scheduling step includes reserving a portion of transmission bandwidth available for said transmitting step for transmitting portions of said information database requested by subscribers; said method including receiving requests from subscribers, said requests each specifying a portion of said information database; and said scheduling step including scheduling transmission of requested portions of said information database. view more

The information transmission method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting step transmits said data packets using multiple transmission channels; and said receiving step includes receiving data packets from selected ones of said multiple transmission channels. view more

The information transmission method of claim 16, said receiving and downloading steps including: at each subscriber stations, temporarily storing received data packets in a buffer, storing a filter list comprising said filter data referencing said specified set of requested data packets, comparing said data packets temporarily stored in said buffer with said filter data and then forwarding those data packets in said buffer which match said filter data to a predefined destination; whereby each subscriber station receives all transmitted data packets but forwards only requested data packets to said predefined destination. view more

An information transmission system, comprising: a set of one or more computer memory devices on which is stored an information database; database editing means, coupled to said one or more computer memory devices, for generating a set of indices for referencing data in said information database, including distinct indices for referencing distinct portions thereof, and for embedding said indices in said information database; transmission scheduler for scheduling transmission of selected portions of said information database, including assigning each selected portion of said information database a transmission repetition rate and one or more scheduled transmission times in accordance with said assigned repetition rate; a transmitter, coupled to said transmission scheduler and said one or more computer memory devices, for transmitting a stream of data packets containing said selected portions of said information database in accordance with said scheduled transmission times; subscriber stations that receive said transmitted stream of data packets, each subscriber station including data filter that stores filter data corresponding to a subset of said indices, said filter data specifying a set of requested data packets which comprises a subset of said transmitted data packets, and that downloads into a memory storage device those of said received data packets which match said specified set of requested data packets; wherein said transmission scheduler reserves transmission times for transmitting portions of said information database requested by subscribers; said information transmission system including a subscriber request receiver that receives requests from subscribers, said requests each specifying a portion of said information database; and said transmitter further transmitting said requested portions of said information database during said reserved transmission times. view more

An information transmission method comprising the steps of: storing an information database on one or more memory devices; generating and storing on said memory devices a set of indices for referencing data in said information database, including distinct indices for referencing distinct portions thereof, and embedding said indices in said information database; scheduling transmission of selected portions of said information database, including assigning each selected portion of said information database a transmission repetition rate and one or more scheduled transmission times in accordance with said assigned repetition rate; transmitting a stream of data packets containing said selected portions of said information database in accordance with said scheduled transmission times; receiving said transmitted stream of data packets at subscriber stations; at each subscriber station, storing filter data corresponding to a subset of said indices, said filter data specifying a set of requested data packets which comprises a subset of said transmitted data packets; and at each subscriber station, downloading into a memory storage device those of said received data packets which match said specified set of requested data packets; wherein said generating step generates indices including timestamps therein, said timestamps indicating when each said portion of the information database referenced by an index is to be transmitted; said method including decoding said timestamps in said indices at said subscriber stations; whereby subscribers can be informed as to when a specified portion of the information database will be received. view more

An information transmission method comprising the steps of: storing an information database on one or more memory devices; generating and storing on said memory devices a set of indices for referencing data in said information database, including distinct indices for referencing distinct portions thereof, and embedding said indices in said information database; scheduling transmission of selected portions of said information database, including assigning each selected portion of said information database a transmission repetition rate and one or more scheduled transmission times in accordance with said assigned repetition rate; transmitting a stream of data packets containing said selected portions of said information database in accordance with said scheduled transmission times; receiving said transmitted stream of data packets at subscriber stations; at each subscriber station, storing filter data corresponding to a subset of said indices, said filter data specifying a set of requested data packets which comprises a subset of said transmitted data packets; and at each subscriber station, downloading into a memory storage device those of said received data packets which match said specified set of requested data packets; said transmitting step including assigning transmission times to said selected portions of said information database and reserving transmission times for transmitting portions of said information database requested by subscribers; said method including receiving requests from subscribers, said request each specifying a portion of said information database; and said transmitting step including transmitting said requested portions of said information database during said reserved transmission times. view more